EU referendum question: Your reaction

The question to be asked in the UK referendum on the European Union constitution has been revealed by the government.

The text states: "Should the United Kingdom approve the treaty establishing a constitution for the European Union?".

This comes as the bill to incorporate the treaty into UK law, subject to a yes vote, is published later on Wednesday.

Supporters of the constitution claim that the document ensures effective operation of the enlarged 25-state EU but critics say that it is a further step towards a federal Europe.

What do you think of the wording of the EU referendum question? How will you vote? Send us your comments.

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:

We need Europe to survive in the global economy! David, Nottingham

Britain does not deserve to be a part of Europe, all the perceived negatives are hijacked and exaggerated by the popular media. The positive aspects of Europe go unreported. Wake up people, we need Europe to survive in the global economy!
David, Nottingham

They can put all the spin and gloss on it that they wish, my answer will still be a resounding NO. I believe a very large section of the British public have had enough of the EU altogether, never mind sinking deeper in, and hope that the polls will reflect that.
Gary, Yorkshire, England

It's a clear, fair, unbiased question. If only the media in this country would present the issues involved in such an open and honest way. Only then can the country decide what's best for Britain.
Chris, Sheffield, UK

Why does the UK always seem to feel like a victim when anything to do with the EU is concerned? There is no longer an empire to fall back on, no longer any need to stand alone, and certainly no need to consider yourselves more akin to the USA. As has already been said on this page, join Europe with your brains, not the USA with your wallet and pride.
Chris, New Zealand (in UK)

Certainly try to read the constitution document but then where do we go for advice and opinion which has shown itself to be trustworthy? Certainly not today's crop of politicians, nor much of the media who's "editorial policy" interpretation of facts is hardly a model of transparency or even handedness. When will we get a vote for less governance rather than more?
John Galpin, Cookham

The first Irish referendum on the Treaty of Nice came up with a 'No' vote. A later referendum on the same question came up with a 'Yes' vote. Should the UK vote 'No' on the EU Constitution are we to expect a second and maybe third vote until we come up with the 'democratic' answer the Federalists want. As with most EU matters they claim to be democratic but their version of democracy just means that the results must be subject to their approval.
Steve Walker, Richmond, Surrey

The question seems perfectly reasonable, unlike some the hysterical Little Englanders here that have made up their minds without having even read the thing. I'll make up my own mind when I've done just that, but have no problem with the idea in principle. A written constitution may help give people across Europe a better idea of their rights and responsibilities, and that is hardly a bad thing.
Katie, Luton, Beds

The level of debate about this important issue so far is laughable Lorraine, St Albans, UK

The level of debate about this important issue so far is laughable. The tabloids have reduced it to idiotic headlines leaving UKIP to sweep up the electoral fall-out. The government are relying on a message of 'trust us it's a good thing' which is equally vacuous. Could the BBC fill the gap and initiate some serious and intelligent discussions? Then maybe we, the people, would have more of a chance of hitting the right answer.
Lorraine, St Albans, UK

For the sake of our future we have no option other than to sign up to the constitution. It is high time this country moved on from colonial attitudes and realised the fact that we are no longer the world force that we once were. We need Europe.
A Sutton, Canterbury

The question posed isn't the question that needs addressing! The question should be "Should the United Kingdom sign up to the New European Union constitution?" The question set allows the government to wriggle out, as it wouldn't rule them out of signing it at a future date after further negotiations. After all not approving and not signing are two different things.
Martyn Howie, Aberdeen

Anyone contemplating voting yes should visit Germany. This country was once the powerhouse economy of the Western World. Now due directly to it's involvement in the EU and the fact it has to carry a number of other countries its economy is in a shambles and its standard of living is plummeting. As for the question, it is irrelevant as the politicians will just keep asking until they get the answer they want.
Nicholas Williams MSc.Econs, London, UK

I think the wording is fine. What worries me is that the majority of people in England have already decided to vote no, but with no substantial reasons to back up this decision. It all seems to tie around not wanting to give up being British. Wake up, the British Empire is long gone, and in order to survive and prosper in this new global world, we need to support of other nations who together can influence the world both politically and economically. There are many benefits for the ordinary person in joining Europe, such as shorter hours, more holiday. I am just amazed why the Government doesn't educate more.
Mark, London

Wording is fine. However I will vote No. Some people here have said to vote no will negatively impact on our trade with the EU. This seems a flawed argument. Trade is a two way street and it would not help EU companies to disadvantage a UK outside of this treaty. Besides what kind of democratic Europe would "punish" a fellow member because of its desire to vote as it wishes.
Richard, Kings Langley, England

Damned if you do, damned if don't, take your pick. No dictated to by America, yes dictated to by the Franco German alliance.
Robert Quinn, British Expat

The EU hasn't been able to get it's accounts signed off for ten years. Perhaps it would be better off getting a simple thing like that sorted out before it tries to grab more powers with this constitution. I will be voting No.
Chris, Exeter

It will be curious to see how many times we will be asked the question until we give the right answer. I think two referenda should do it.
Steve, Leeds

What amazes me is how many British people think this is a referendum on whether we should join the EU or not! It's clear that we need to do a lot more to educate people about the EU in general before we start having referendums on subjects that many clearly don't understand.
Jennifer, Netherlands, ex UK

I am tired of the obscene waste of money and materials Tony, Wakefield

Like most people I am tired of the obscene waste of money and materials that the EEC is guilty of. Equally, I don't want to be tied to America if we say "No" to Europe. Why can't we just be British? It doesn't stop us trading with the rest of the world.
Tony, Wakefield

What people don't seem to realise is that the EU constitution is actually a tidying up exercise (rather than a step towards federalism,) that helps the institutions cope with the enlargement, it also enshrines the concept of subsidiary and makes the EU more democratic. Those who bother to read the information before passing judgement might find that to not sign the treaty (and thereby halt the proceedings altogether) would be detrimental to both Britain and the E.U.
Anna, Leamington Spa

The Government's mud-slinging has started already. According to Jack Straw, anyone opposing the constitution will be deemed unpatriot. I believe the opposite is true.
Roy Fletcher, Slough

Knee jerk reactions, reflecting the spin from both sides of the political divide Dave, Luton, UK

I'm grateful we're all being asked, but it would be kind of nice if somebody provided a comprehensive review of the referendum that we can all read. Right now, I read these comments and 95% are just knee jerk reactions, reflecting the spin from both sides of the political divide.
Dave, Luton, UK

The question sounds nice and straightforward to me - so why do we have to wait until 2006 before we can vote on it?
Kathryn, Camberley

The wording of the question isn't relevant, but we can be sure that the government will keep on asking us until we come up with the 'right' answer!
Neil Wallace, Sheffield, England

The entire debate around the EU is generally misguided and uninformed even when it takes place amongst politicians. A perfect example - how many people actually know the difference between the EC and the EU? No matter how the question is phrased for the vast majority of people their answer will be based on misinformation.
Sara Robertson, Edinburgh, UK

Anyone who hasn't been on another planet for the last couple of years already knows, without reading the Treaty, that for the survival of this country we must vote "no".
Matthew Duckworth, London, England

Without clear information people will vote on the basis of media or popularist spin James Freeman, Coulsdon, UK

The Government should use the time they have between now and 2006 to effectively inform everybody of the purpose of the constitution and the implications for the UK of voting against it. Without clear information people will vote on the basis of media or popularist spin.
James Freeman, Coulsdon, UK

Why stop at just a constitution? The United States of Europe sounds good to me.
Daren, London

Vote "Yes", the quicker we abolish the nation states the quicker we abolish war and strife. International peace and harmony can only be achieved when we get rid of our outdated, petty, nationalistic governments and accept a strong central EU Government that will rule fairly and in the interests of all the peoples of Europe.
Anthony Abbott, Utretch, Netherlands

We are asked here principally about the "wording" of the question, and I think there is still a little obfuscation; i.e. one is to vote for/against a "treaty" as opposed to the constitution itself. I think I'd rather that the focus was on the latter. Thus, though I am more in favour of us being part of the United States of Europe than of America, I will vote "no".
John, Inverness, Scotland

What a bunch of Europhobes Jose Fernandez, Barcelona, Spain

What a bunch of Europhobes! Vote No by all means but then please get out of the Union and let us try and make something of Europe.
Jose Fernandez, Barcelona, Spain

Surely its common sense to say " No" to a constitution with 15 different countries all trying to have a share in the financial cake. Look at countries such as France, Italy and Germany before and after the introduction of their Euro. High unemployment, reduced local services and so on.
Andy, Willich, Germany

To all the Little Englanders out there, before you vote NO, please read the Treaty, and then vote.
Peter, London

We already have something called the free market; hence whether we agree to a federal Europe will not impact on UK economic prosperity one jot. Look at Sweden and Norway, two of the most prosperous countries in Europe with standards of living way above ours. They said no to Europe and it hasn't affected them at all. Why do we feel so insecure that we have to club together to rally against American power?
Pete Harrington, UK Derby

How about a British Constitution first, just for practise?
John Moon, Boston UK

People should think long and hard before agreeing to this Peter, Nottingham

The constitution isn't just a list of rights and responsibilities for member nations and citizens to uphold. It contains a clause stating "The Union shall have legal personality". This in effect gives birth to a new country called "EU". People should think long and hard before agreeing to this.
Peter, Nottingham

Unlike some comments here, I hope to read the constitution before deciding yes or no.
Eccles, Cardiff, UK

The question is fair and clear. I'm tired of people acting like this is a conspiracy - the whole point of a referendum is to enable the public to make their own minds up and express their wishes clearly - precisely the opposite of being 'brainwashed'. Personally I will be voting 'yes'.
Polly, Edinburgh, Scotland

The wording is ok. The answer from the majority of British people will be a resounding NO, whatever the liberal elitists try to spin.
John K, Liverpool

Jack Straw says we would be weak and isolated if we said no?? Maybe he should come over to Germany and see the state of the country. I returned here in November after being in the UK for five years, and the place is like a miserable ghost town! Many of the old shops have closed down, people are totally sick of the EU, unemployment is rampant - but Herr Blair says we must join this?
Kyle, Celle, Germany

The question is fair, but how much taxpayers' money are they planning to spend on lobbying the public to get the "right" answer? As it seems you now can't take a vitamin pill without the EU meddling, my answer will be no.
Roger, UK

The wording of the question is absolutely fine. What's worrying is that more time is being spent talking about the question than on debating what the treaty covers and on educating people about the implications. Where is the in depth coverage?
Martin G, Nottingham, UK.

I would like them to add a question about ID cards - they could clear up that issue at the same time!
James Murphy, Dorset, UK

The important bit now is a balanced debate on the implications Jim Kirk, Basildon, UK

First with cynical hat on - there is a world of difference between a treaty and agreement of final constitution. However the question seems straightforward. The important bit now is a balanced debate on the implications without party bickering, to allow the public to make up its mind.
Jim Kirk, Basildon, UK

Vote NO and we will be dictated to by Europe for the trade we do there. Vote YES and we will have a say in the terms and conditions.
Paul Morgan, Dunstable, England

Never mind the form of the question, they must detail what are the outcomes and likely consequences on both a Yes and a No vote
John Cutland, Kirkcaldy, Scotland

The only sensible answer is a resounding NO.
LJS, Stockport, UK

Why are we being asked now if we want to go deeper into the water, when we were never asked if we wanted to be in at all in the first place? What we say is likely to be of little matter. If we return a resounding "No" (which I hope will be the case) we will simply be sent back to the polls until we get it right.
Ollie, Leeds, England

The wording could confuse some of the UK's voters. Could it not have been worded "Should we be dictated to by Europe"?
Chris Saunders, London/Middlesex

Makes not a jot of difference - the answer will be the same. NO.
Roger, Whitwick, England

The question seems straightforward enough. Mr Blair and his cronies will certainly be voting YES. That's good enough for me. I shall be voting NO.
Tony Hague, North Yorkshire

The problem with the question is that while it seems fair it doesn't mention the UK's responsibilities under the constitution. So one impression is that we can vote YES without impacting the UK. Even though there is a bill to tie the two.
Richard, UK

Yes, very fair if it stays that way. Only a devious mind could find something wrong with this text.
James, Bucks, UK

There is no ambiguity in the question whatsoever. The only foreseeable is that the ignorant people of this country will have no idea what the EU is or that we have belonged to it since 1973. I will be voting an enthusiastic "yes".
Philip Pike, Colchester

Maybe a federal Europe is not such a bad thing - I'd rather be one of the leading nations in a United Europe than the lapdog 51st State of America.
Bill, Leicester, UK

At least it is clear and to the point. In this world we need strength by union and with this union a new superpower will be born to challenge the USA on global issues.
Bumble, Dartford, UK